Former Dancing With the Stars pro Cheryl Burke is ending her controversial podcast for now. Burke — who was a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars on and off from Season 2 to 31 — announced in an Instagram video on December 30, 2024, that she would not be continuing her podcast, “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans,” in the New Year.
“After an incredible journey, I’ve made the bittersweet decision to say farewell—for now—to this podcast. This chapter has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, filled with growth, meaningful conversations, and powerful connections,” Burke wrote in the caption. “You, my loyal listeners, have been my rock and my backbone, especially during moments of controversy. The only reason I kept going with my head held high was because of your unwavering support and belief in me. I cannot thank you enough for being a part of this journey and for truly understanding my intentions.”
Burke, who launched “Sex, Lies and Spray Tans” in 2023, earned a controversial reputation among Dancing With the Stars fans for her critical opinion and interviews with former DWTS pros, hosts and contestants on her podcast. In her post announcing the podcast’s cancellation, Burke acknowledged the backlash.
“To anyone who may have misinterpreted this podcast or questioned my love for the show that shaped me, I encourage you to listen to the episodes,” she wrote. “My heart has always been in the right place, and I’ve seen so many of your comments affirming that. I will never forget where I came from, and my love for that chapter of my life will never waver. Any negative perceptions about me in the headlines could not be further from the truth. This podcast was always about truth, connection, and storytelling—not taking anything down.”
Burke also thanked her podcast’s production studio, iHeartRadio, for giving her a platform to do her show. “I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my @iheartradio family for supporting me every step of the way. You believed in this vision and gave me the platform to create something so meaningful,” she wrote. “To my guests, thank you for trusting me with your stories and making this podcast a space for vulnerability and authenticity. And to my listeners, thank you for embracing this journey with open hearts and open minds. Because of you, this chapter has been unforgettable.”
She concluded her post, “While this isn’t goodbye, it is a “see you later.” My journey is just beginning, and 2025 has already been filled with new opportunities and exciting adventures which I promise to tell you about soon. I hope you’ll continue to follow me, support me, and join me as I embrace what’s next. Wherever this next chapter takes me, I promise to bring the same authenticity, energy, and love to it. Thank you for being part of this journey with me—I will cherish it forever. Until next time, sending you all my love and gratitude. 🙏🏼”
In her final podcast episode, titled “Goodbye for Now,” Burke further explained her decision to end her podcast after backlash from the Dancing With the Stars fandom including some of her fellow pros.
“I have a bittersweet, I guess, announcement,” she said. “I just want to say to you guys that, as I sit down to share this message, my heart is honestly just filled with so much gratitude and it’s been such an emotional, I guess, few weeks or a few days since making the decision to pause this podcast. This has been an incredible journey.”
Burke, who confirmed that her podcast would not be on when Dancing With the Stars Season 34 airs in 2025, noted that there was a “slight chance” she could restart the show for Season 35 in 2026. “But there’s also a slight chance that that won’t happen,” she said. “There’s so many opportunities and, new, I guess, doors opening and it’s really exciting.”
She continued, “With all the hard work that I’ve put into this podcast, I couldn’t do it any other way. So with this new year approaching, I kinda just had to choose which path I wanted to go down this time around and I have to see what else is out there.”
Former Dancing With the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy was among the critics of Burke’s podcast. Chmerkovskiy, who served as a pro on and off from Season 2 to 25, slammed Burke in an episode of the “Behind the Velvet Rope” podcast in October 2024. In the interview, Chmerkovskiy, who was among Burke’s first guests on her podcast, explained why he regretted his appearance on the show.
https://www.yahoo.com“All she has about the show is just negative stuff. You know, that’s all she talks about. Like for so long and the only foundation for your conversation is negativity?” he said. “The only people you get on your show are those who were wronged or feel like they were wronged and they’re there to express their wrongness or whatever. ”
He continued, “Had I known that that was the topic, not the topic, but her direction, I would never do it because I don’t want to be a part of that.” Chmerkovskiy also claimed that situations from his past were “completely taken out of context” on Burke’s podcast.
“I think Cheryl needs to do a lot of soul-searching. You got to move on. And she hasn’t,“ he added. “I think that Cheryl needed to sit back and reflect on her stuff, you know, instead of starting a podcast that’s just so vile and so dirty and so negative.”
Dancing With the Stars is available to stream on Hulu.
